Arts

THE GRANDEST DESIGN

See these 11 larger-than-life art experiences in Dallas-Fort Worth

You don’t have to travel far to take in some of the biggest—and greatest—art in Texas. Here’s some bigtime artsy fun to experience with the kids, right in DFW.

DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT

Spanning 118 acres, this is the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation. The neighborhood has more buildings designed by Pritzker award-winning architects (think the Nobel prize of architecture) than anywhere else in the world.

Among its many museums is the DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART, the

TIP: Make KLYDE WARREN PARK a pitstop while you explore the Arts District. Bring a blanket for free movies on select Saturday evenings this summer: June 24, July 15 and August 19.

11th largest art museum in America. The museum’s permanent collection boasts more than 25,000 works with some pieces dating back more than five millennia. Their family-friendly offerings include story times, art-making activities, hands-on games in the galleries and family workshops. Plus, admission is always free.

On view through July 16, DMA’s special exhibition Movement: The Legacy of Kineticism is a great choice for families this summer. Showcasing the work of artists from three historical eras, it utilizes optical effects, mechanical or manipulative parts to engage viewers physically or perceptually. There are some fun interactive elements within, like the work Vagalume, a space full of dazzling lights with hanging chains that visitors can turn on and off. Tickets are $10, but children 11 and under get in free.

Nearby, the NASHER SCULPTURE CENTER is worth a visit for its striking indoor galleries and oneand-a-half-acre sculpture garden featuring dozens of large-scale sculptures. Come on the first Saturday of the month for free admission and family programming from 11am –2 pm. // Dallas Museum of Art, 214/922-1200; dma.org // Nasher Sculpture Center, 214/242-5100; nashersculpturecenter.org

THE EYE

Minutes away from the Arts District, you’ll find an enormous eyeball plopped right in the middle of downtown Dallas. The three-story sculpture, Eye, fashioned after artist Tony Tasset’s own baby-blues, is one of the most iconic artworks in all of Texas. It sits on a lawn of plush green grass outside the swanky Joule Hotel.

Bring your walking shoes and make a day of it, checking out other quintessential outdoor artworks throughout downtown. About a ten-minute walk from the Eye you’ll come to the larger-than-life bronze bulls at PIONEER PLAZA

The 4-acre site features native plants and trees, a flowing stream and a waterfall, but the big draw are the massive longhorn steers being driven by three cowboys on horses.

From there, visit Dallas’ original resident flying horse, the giant red Pegasus, just a jaunt away. This Pegasus first landed in Downtown Dallas in 1934, perching atop Magnolia Hotel, then the city’s tallest building. It now sits outside the Omni Dallas Hotel, which, featuring 7,000 pieces by local artisans, is an art gallery in and of itself. //

TIP: Just minutes from the Eye is the AT&T DISCOVERY DISTRICT, an upand-coming downtown destination featuring interactive pop-up art installations, a 104-foot-tall Media Wall that brings digital art to life in 6K resolution, and plenty of green space to run around.

Eye, 214/748-1300; thejouledallas.com // Pioneer Plaza; texastrees.org // The Omni Dallas, 214/744-6664; omnihotels.com/hotels/dallas

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM

This free Fort Worth museum is on the smaller side, but it’s a big name in art. Described as the greatest work of modern architecture in Texas, the Kimbell Art Museum is renowned for its architecture (with buildings by Louis Kahn and Renzo Piano) as much as its collections. Take the kids to see masterpieces by Monet, Matisse and Picasso, Egyptian antiquities and art from Asia, Africa and Mesoamerica.

Just for kiddos 5 and under, the Kimbell’s “please touch” room, Studio A,

3 MORE LARGE-SCALE ART EXPERIENCES

1 VORTEX AT MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH: This 67-foot-tall steel structure that stands outside the museum is a multi-sensorial experience. Step inside and you’re basically in a giant echo chamber, which, of course the kiddos love. // Fort Worth, 817/7389215; themodern.org

2

GIANT TEDDY BEARS AT LAKESIDE PARK:

Beautiful Lakeside Park is dubbed Teddy Bear Park by locals because of its very grand—and very cute—statues. Four- to 10-foot granite teddy bears greet visitors at this tranquil 14-acre park, overlooking Turtle Creek. // Highland Park; hptx.org

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TEXAS SCULPTURE

GARDEN:

The largest private collection of contemporary sculptures ever assembled and made available to the public, the Texas Sculpture Garden showcases four acres of artwork created by Texas artisans. Take it in while moseying down walking trails that wind through lush landscaping past lakes and fountains. // Frisco, 972/377-1100; texasculpturegarden.org encourages littles to experience art on their level. The sensory-friendly drop-in play space is always free and open during museum hours. To make visits even more kid-friendly, the museum offers artwork picture cards, Kimbell Kids stickers and thematic guides that invite children to sketch what they see and search the museum for certain works of art. Monthly story times for ages 4–6 are offered, as well as drop-in artmaking for kids under 12 (reservations required).

TIP: Nursing mamas take note: the Kimbell goes the extra mile for breastfeeding moms, inviting them to feed their child wherever they feel comfortable but also offering a special nursing room in the Piano Pavilion’s lower level.

Visit on July 16 for the museum’s Family Festival and enjoy live performances, artmaking, gallery explorations and complimentary ice cream. // Fort Worth, 817/332-8451; kimbellart.org

CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE

Budding artists will never run out of colors at the biggest crayon caddy in Texas. Crayola Experience’s Colossal Caddy is stocked with thousands upon thousands of crayons for kids to sit and color with. But the bigtime fun doesn’t end there—the Plano attraction, located in the Shops at Willow Bend, is larger than an NFL football field. You’ll want to dedicate 3-4 hours to get in everything there is to do, including an indoor playground with a two-story, melted wax tower and a giant crayon climbing wall, toddler town, and countless spaces for coloring, painting, sculpting and crafting. Before you leave, be sure to melt and mold your own character, or name and wrap your own unique Crayola crayon. While you’re at the Shops, check out the indoor playground made up of soft, one-of-a-kind play pieces. The Plano-themed play area is a nod to the city’s historic Haggard Park and is constructed of hand-sculpted kid-friendly foam. // Plano, 469/642-2901; crayolaexperience.com/plano

TIP: For an extra dose of fun visit on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday to take a ride around the mall on a trackless train or pick your very own giant stuffed animal to cruise around on.

Culture

THE MOST TEXAN

Revel in Lone Star lore at 9 legendary locales You know what’s really big in Texas? State pride. There’s a unique regard for our state’s deep-rooted history and place in the nation and we wear that pride like badge of honor. Here are six of the most Texan things to do in Texas, where you and the kids can celebrate all the legend and lore.

JOHN NEELY BRYAN

CABIN & OLD CITY PARK

Just two blocks from the infamous Dealey Plaza is a significant piece of North

TIP: In addition to its Barnyard Buddies program for littles (see page 18 for details) Old City Park offers programs that older kids will dig, like lantern-led nighttime tours discovering the more mysterious parts of history.

Texas history, but unless you know what it is, you might walk right by. The tiny log cabin that sits at Main and Market streets— and seems a bit odd in the midst of the city’s hustle and bustle—is a replica of the city’s first house built in the 1840s near the Trinity River by John Neely Bryan, the founder of Dallas. You’ll have to take it in from the outside, but not far away more interactive historical homes are at Old City Park, the largest collection of 19th century pioneer and Victorian buildings in Texas. You can tour these buildings, moved from throughout North Central Texas here to Dallas’ first city park, and see what life was like for Texans who lived over a 100 years ago. // John Neely Bryan Cabin, Main St. and Market St., Downtown Dallas // Old Park City, Dallas, 214/421-5141; oldcityparkdallas.org

LOG CABIN VILLAGE

Step back in time at this village nestled in Fort Worth where you can walk through a piece of Texas from the mid-1800s. Here,

TIP: Don’t miss the 1853 Tompkins cabin where you’ll see interpreters dipping candles. There’s a good chance they’ll let the kids try their hand at it too!